I tried to buy a Slingshot 99 foil from a dealer and they said they were out of stock. However, they had a Ride Engine 99 that they claimed was made by the exact same company in China, but instead of the orange painted edges, its blue. I asked if it would fit on my current Slingshot fuselage and they said yes - its the same exact foil, from the same manufacture that provides the Slingshot foil.
So I thought this was Slingshots design/technology- but is it really the Chinese companies doings?
There is a head company called 7 Nation which has a number of sub brands including Slingshot and Ride Engine. It's a bit like Boards and More (Fanatic, ION, Duotone), Pryde Group (Neil Pryde, JP-Australia, Cabrinha, RRD...) in the windsurf market or LVMH (Dior, Kering, Louis Vuitton, Moet etc) in the luxury brand market.
7 Nation is probably the head company that probably owns the intellectual property which are then marketed under different brands. For example this allows Slingshot to take it's discontinued foils and sell them under a different brand name (eg RideEngine). I have read on a US forum that Slingshot is about to release a new range called the Phantom Foil. This would explain why they wings are now sold by RideEngine. I have also seen a video with Logoz saying he will send the foil designs of the current range to anyone interested.
As far as manufacturing is concerned I am guessing it all comms from the same factory in China. Again the contracts with the Chinese manufacturer are probably negotiated through 7 Nation to get more leverage on price.
More about it 7 Nation here: www.thekiteboarder.com/2015/05/ride-engine-joins-forces-with-7-nation/
As far the Chinese designing a foil without the help of a dedicated foil test crew... I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole.
As far as I can tell they are the same just with different colour schemes. Difficult to imagine it would make sense to set up a separate production line to make the same thing
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..
.... I have read on a US forum that Slingshot is about to release a new range called the Phantom Foil. ....
For clarification, it's the Phantasm. They've been "abouting" since late last year straining the patience of even their hard-core fans here as they watch anyone riding Moses gear.
As others have said, RE and SS are functionally the same. RE do not appear to be past designs like some generic foils I see. One online shop just lists them both on the same shared page. 
www.mackiteboarding.com/slingshot-ride-engine-hydrofoil-parts/
Infinity 99
Manta 99
Yeah sorry... my bad. Couldn't remember the exact name. Here is the link to the forum on the US site: www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=35576.0
Hello,
got the infinity 84 under ride engine brand it is exactly the same as SS made from the same mould.
it is more a marketing position as ride engine is clearly targeting the surf side of the foil and SS the wind sport
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..
Yeah sorry... my bad. Couldn't remember the exact name. Here is the link to the forum on the US site: www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=35576.0
No worries - It's come up around here periodically: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Foiling/Slingshot-phantasm-carbon-for-hover-glide-anyone- for anyone who wants to catch up.
Hello,
got the infinity 84 under ride engine brand it is exactly the same as SS made from the same mould.
it is more a marketing position as ride engine is clearly targeting the surf side of the foil and SS the wind sport
I have the RE Manta 84 and we compared it to the SS 84. They are a match, completely apart from the colours. Even feel the same on the water with the wing wobble at exactly the same speed.
I wanted the SS but RE was all that was available so went with it.
The 84 is an amazing wing. Only now out-used by the SS i99.
Select to expand quoteDcharlton said..
Yep!!! Just got my 99 infinity err I mean Manta! Can't wait!!!
I just tried to install mine - and i can't. The front hole near the nose of the board is not big enough and the bolt won't fit. The rear bolt and the set screw fit fine. I could always go to the store and get a round file to bore it out, but for 700 bucks it should work out of the box. Plus, in 40+ years I have never needed a round file. I don't want to buy one to use one time. I have so much stuff...
No wind for the next 5 days so I asked the shop to send me a new one.
Select to expand quoteDcharlton said..
Yep!!! Just got my 99 infinity err I mean Manta! Can't wait!!!
You're gonna like it!
Select to expand quoteJEZ said..
Just a correction to stehsegler, RRD isn't a part of the NP group!
Sorry my bad... I was looking at Neil Pryde Group Germany. Which is a distributor.
www.prydegroup.de/en/index.php
I am wrong or does ride engine have some wings that slingshot doesn't sell?
www.rideengine.com/rideengine-foil/rideengine-foil-wings
Also I don't see the manta equivalent of the 65.
